deputy
noun
dep·u·ty
ˈde-pyə-tē 
plural deputies
often attributive
1
a
: a person appointed as a substitute with power to act
b
: a second in command or assistant who usually takes charge when his or her superior is absent
2
: a member of the lower house of some legislative assemblies
Synonyms
Examples of deputy in a Sentence
the club president sent a deputy to the conference to vote on our behalf
a deputy supervisor to help out with routine tasks
Recent Examples on the Web
Riverside County deputy, 14 others arrested in drug trafficking bust.
—
Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2024
One deputy is in critical, but stable, condition and the other is in stable condition.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2024
The mantle fell to Hastert of Illinois, the chief deputy whip.
—Ron Elving, NPR, 27 Apr. 2024
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo and her deputy Emmanuel Grégoire took to social media to praise this year’s winner.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 27 Apr. 2024
The lockdown was lifted, and deputies remained on campus for the rest of the school day.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2024
That’s a $120,000 raise from his $220,000 salary as deputy superintendent for teaching and learning, his former post — but $10,000 less than Licata’s $350,000 annual salary as superintendent.
—Jimena Tavel, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2024
Sheriff’s deputies were called to the scene about 10:40 p.m. after a ShotSpotter activation and a 911 call.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 15 Apr. 2024
Syracuse police and Onondaga County sheriff's deputies responded to the address, where a man opened fire on the law enforcement officers, police said.
—Jolie Lash, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2024
Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2024
One deputy is in critical, but stable, condition and the other is in stable condition.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2024
The mantle fell to Hastert of Illinois, the chief deputy whip.
—Ron Elving, NPR, 27 Apr. 2024
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo and her deputy Emmanuel Grégoire took to social media to praise this year’s winner.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 27 Apr. 2024
The lockdown was lifted, and deputies remained on campus for the rest of the school day.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2024
That’s a $120,000 raise from his $220,000 salary as deputy superintendent for teaching and learning, his former post — but $10,000 less than Licata’s $350,000 annual salary as superintendent.
—Jimena Tavel, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2024
Sheriff’s deputies were called to the scene about 10:40 p.m. after a ShotSpotter activation and a 911 call.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 15 Apr. 2024
Syracuse police and Onondaga County sheriff's deputies responded to the address, where a man opened fire on the law enforcement officers, police said.
—Jolie Lash, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deputy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near deputy
Cite this Entry
“Deputy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deputy. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deputy
noun
dep·u·ty
ˈdep-yət-ē
plural deputies
1
: a person appointed to act for or in place of another
2
: an assistant who usually takes charge when his or her superior is absent
deputy
adjective
Legal Definition
deputy
noun
dep·u·ty
ˈde-pyə-tē
plural deputies
1
: a person appointed as a substitute with power to act
2
: a second in command or assistant who usually takes charge when his or her superior is absent
specifically
: deputy sheriff
Etymology
Middle French deputé person appointed to exercise authority, from past participle of deputer to appoint, depute
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